RESUMEN

We describe the operation of a cryogenic instrumentation platform incorporating commercially available field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The functionality of the FPGAs at temperatures approaching 4 K enables signal routing, multiplexing, and complex digital signal processing in close proximity to cooled devices or detectors within the cryostat. The performance of the FPGAs in a cryogenic environment is evaluated, including clock speed, error rates, and power consumption. Although constructed for the purpose of controlling and reading out quantum computing devices with low latency, the instrument is generic enough to be of broad use in a range of cryogenic applications.

RESUMEN

DP-3Ø5423-1 (305423) is a genetically modified soybean that was produced by biolistic insertion of the gm-fad2-1 gene fragment and gm-hra genes into the germline of soybean seeds. Expression of gm-fad2-1 results in greater concentrations of oleic acid (18:1) by suppressing expression of the endogenous FAD2-1 gene, which encodes an n-6 fatty acid desaturase enzyme that catalyzes desaturation of 18:1 to linoleic acid (18:2). The GM-HRA protein expressed by the gm-hra gene is a modified version of the soybean acetolactate synthase enzyme that is used as a selectable marker during transformation. A 42-d feeding trial was conducted with broiler chickens to compare the nutritional performance of 305423 soybeans with nontransgenic soybeans. Diets were prepared using processed fractions (meal, hulls, and oil) from 305423 soybean plants. For comparison, additional diets were produced with soybean fractions obtained from a nontransgenic near-isoline (control) and nontransgenic commercial Pioneer brand varieties (93B86, 93B15, and 93M40). Diets were fed to Ross x Cobb broilers (n = 120/group, 50% male and 50% female) in 3 phases. Starter, grower, and finisher diets contained 26.5, 23, and 21.5% soybean meal, respectively. Soybean hulls and oil were added at 1.0 and 0.5%, respectively, across all diets in each phase. No statistically significant differences were observed in growth performance (BW, mortality, feed efficiency), organ yield (liver and kidney), or carcass yield (breast, thigh, leg, wing, and abdominal fat) variables between broilers consuming diets prepared with isolated fractions from 305423 or near-isoline control soybean. Additionally, all performance and carcass variables from control and 305423 soybean treatment groups fell within tolerance intervals constructed for each response variable using data from broilers fed diets prepared with reference soybean fractions. Based on the results from this study, it was concluded that 305423 soybeans were nutritionally equivalent to non-transgenic control soybeans with a comparable genetic background.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

A genetically modified maize (Zea mays L.) line that contains the Optimum GAT trait (event DP-Ø9814Ø-6; 98140) was produced by integration of the gat4621 and zm-hra genes. The expressed GAT4621 and ZM-HRA proteins confer tolerance to the herbicidal active ingredient glyphosate and acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides, respectively. The objective of this study was to compare the nutritional performance of 98140 maize grain to nontransgenic maize grain in a 42-d feeding trial in broiler chickens. Diets were prepared using grain from untreated 98140 plants and from plants treated with an in-field application of herbicides (98140 + Spray). For comparison, additional diets were produced with maize grain obtained from the nontransgenic near-isogenic control (control) and nontransgenic commercial reference Pioneer brand hybrids 33J56, 33P66, and 33R77. Diets were fed to Ross x Cobb broilers (n = 120/group, 50% male and 50% female) in 3 phases: starter, grower, and finisher containing 58.5, 64, and 71.5% maize grain, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed in mortality, growth performance variables, or carcass and organ yields between broilers consuming diets produced with maize grains from unsprayed or sprayed 98140 and those consuming diets produced with near-isogenic control maize grain. Additionally, all performance and carcass variables from control, 98140, and 98140 + Spray test maize treatment groups were within tolerance intervals constructed using data from reference maize groups. Based on these results, it was concluded that 98140 maize grain (unsprayed or sprayed with a herbicide mixture) was nutritionally equivalent to nontransgenic control maize with comparable genetic background.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Event DP-356Ø43-5 (356043; Optimum GAT) is a genetically modified soybean (Glycine max) that was produced by insertion of the gat4601 and gm-hra genes. The expression products of these genes are the glyphosate acetyltransferase 4601 and acetolactate synthase proteins, respectively. Expression of the glyphosate acetyltransferase 4601 protein confers tolerance in planta to the herbicidal active ingredient glyphosate, whereas expression of the acetolactate synthase protein confers tolerance to sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicides. The objective of this study was to compare the nutritional equivalence of 356043 soybeans to nontransgenic soybeans in a 42-d feeding trial in broiler chickens. Diets were prepared using processed fractions (meal, hulls, and oil) from untreated 356043 soybean plants or from soybean plants treated with a mixture of glyphosate, chlorimuron, and thifensulfuron (356043 + Gly/SU). For comparison, additional diets were produced with soybean fractions obtained from a nontransgenic near-isoline (control; 091) and nontransgenic commercial Pioneer varieties (93B86, 93B15, and 93M40). Diets were fed to Ross x Cobb broilers (n = 120/group, 50% male and 50% female) in 3 phases. Starter diets contained 30% soybean meal, grower diets 26% soybean meal, and finisher diets 21.5% soybean meal. Soybean hulls and oil were added at 1.0 and 0.5%, respectively, across all diets in each phase. No statistically significant differences were observed in mortality, growth performance variables, or carcass and organ yields between broilers consuming diets produced with 356043 or 356043 + Gly/SU soybean fractions and those consuming diets produced with near-isoline control soybean fractions. Additionally, all performance and carcass variables from control, 356043, and 356043 + Gly/SU soybean treatment groups fell within the tolerance intervals constructed using data from reference soybean groups. Based on the results from this study, it was concluded that 356043 soybean was nutritionally equivalent to nontransgenic control soybean with a comparable genetic background.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Monsanto employs several pragmatic approaches for evaluating the toxicity of mixtures. These approaches are similar to those recommended by many national and international agencies. When conducting hazard and risk assessments, priority is always given to using data collected directly on the mixture of concern. To provide an example of the first tier of evaluation, actual data on acute respiratory irritation studies on mixtures were evaluated to determine whether the principle of additivity was applicable to the mixture evaluated. If actual data on the mixture are unavailable, extrapolation across similar mixtures is considered. Because many formulations are quite similar in composition, the toxicity data from one mixture can be extended to a closely related mixture in a scientifically justifiable manner. An example of a family of products where such extrapolations have been made is presented to exemplify this second approach. Lastly, if data on similar mixtures are unavailable, data on component fractions are used to predict the toxicity of the mixture. In this third approach, process knowledge and scientific judgement are used to determine how the known toxicological properties of the individual fractions affect toxicity of the mixture. Three examples of plant effluents where toxicological data on fractions were used to predict the toxicity of the mixture are discussed. The results of the analysis are used to discuss the predictive value of each of the above mentioned toxicological approaches for evaluating chemical mixtures.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Saline, naloxone, domperidone or metaclopramide was injected into lactating rabbits immediately before suckling. Blood samples were taken prior to injection (0 minutes) and then at 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the start of suckling, after which the samples were assayed for plasma prolactin and LH concentrations. In all the does there was a significant increase in prolactin concentration, which was highest 15 minutes after the start of suckling, and which declined exponentially thereafter to levels significantly higher than before suckling. The increase in prolactin concentration was similar in does given saline and naloxone, but it was significantly enhanced in does given metaclopramide; with domperidone the increase was intermediate and not significantly different from that following treatment with saline. In does given saline, domperidone, and metaclopramide plasma LH concentrations declined slowly during the hour after suckling but the concentration was increased significantly in does given naloxone. The inverse correlations between prolactin and LH were low weak and were not significant.

RESUMEN

Recombinant cDNA clones that encode the alpha subunit of the chicken pituitary glycoprotein hormones were isolated from a pituitary library. The longer of the two cDNA clones that were sequenced was 754 bp in length. It contained 81 nucleotides of the 5'-untranslated region (UTR), an open-reading frame of 360 bp that encoded a 24 amino acid leader polypeptide sequence as well as the 96 amino acid mature alpha subunit, and 268 nucleotides of the 3'-UTR, followed by a 45 bp poly(A) tract. There was 69-79% homology between the nucleotide sequence of the coding region for the chicken and mammalian alpha-subunit cDNAs. Northern blot analysis revealed that the steady-state levels of an approximately 800 bp alpha-subunit specific transcript increased quantitatively when dispersed chicken pituitary glands were treated in culture with chicken gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-I.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Primiparous crossbred does were remated on Day 1 (n = 15) or 14 (n = 25) post partum and killed on Day 10 post coitum to assess their fertility. Blood samples were taken during the pre- (0-12 h post coitum) and post- (1-10 days post coitum) ovulatory periods and plasma was assayed for luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, oestradiol-17 beta and progesterone. Ovulation response was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) and ovulation rate significantly lower (P less than 0.001) in does mated on Day 1 than in those mated on Day 14 post partum. Does failing to ovulate on Day 14 post partum exhibited no preovulatory LH surge and had significantly lower (P less than 0.05) premating concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta and prolactin than those ovulating at this time. No significant differences in hormone concentrations were observed during the preovulatory period between does ovulating on Days 1 and 14 post partum, with the exception of oestradiol-17 beta. Concentrations of this hormone were significantly lower (P less than 0.01) in does mated on Day 1, at 1 h post coitum. We conclude that (i) fertility was affected by the remating interval after parturition, (ii) ovulation failure was associated with an absence of the preovulatory LH surge and a reduction in premating concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta and prolactin and (iii) the lower ovulation rate in early lactation was apparently caused by a reduction in ovarian competence to respond to the gonadotrophic stimulus.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

A tetracycline resistance (Tcr) determinant from Clostridium difficile strain 630 was cloned into the Escherichia coli plasmid vector pUC13. The resulting plasmid pPPM20, containing an insert of 3.4 kbp, was mapped and a 1.1 kbp SacI-HindIII fragment wholly within the Tcr gene was identified. Dot-blot hybridization studies with the 1.1 kbp fragment showed that the Tcr gene belonged to hybridization class M. Tcr could be transferred between C. difficile strains and to Bacillus subtilis at a frequency of 10(-7) per donor cell. The element could be returned from B. subtilis to C. difficile at a frequency of 10(-8) per donor cell. This is the first demonstration of C. difficile acting as a recipient in intergeneric crosses. DNA from C. difficile transconjugants digested with EcoRV always has two hybridizing fragments of 9.5 and 11.0 kbp when probed with pPPM20. DNA from B. subtilis transconjugants digested with EcoRV produced one hybridizing band of variable size when probed with pPPM20. The behaviour of the element was reminiscent of the conjugative transposons. Therefore we compared the element to the conjugative transposon Tn916. The HincII restriction maps of the two elements differed and no hybridization was detected to oligonucleotides directed to the ends of Tn916. However, the elements do have some sequence homology, detected by hybridization analysis.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Sixty-four crossbred primiparous lactating does each suckling six pups were allocated at random into four groups and were mated on either Day 1, 2, 3, or 4 post partum (where Day 0 = the day of parturition). They were subsequently killed on Day 10 post coitum (where Day 0 = the day of mating) to assess fertility. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in their mating response (97% overall), ovulation response (77% overall), implantation response (83% overall), implantation rate (8.7 overall), or preimplantation mortality rate (24% overall). Ovulation rate was significantly increased in does mated on Days 3 and 4 (13.3 and 13.1, respectively), compared with those mated on Day 1 (10.2, P<0.05) and Day 2 (9.6, P<0.01) post partum. From these results we conclude that fertility is high throughout the early postpartum period in the lactating rabbit.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Diltiazem and propranolol alone and in combination as antianginal agents were compared with placebo in 12 patients with stable exertional angina at Stanford University Medical Center. The patients performed symptom-limited, multi-stage upright bicycle ergometric exercise while undergoing radionuclide angiographic studies every two weeks while being treated with 90 mg of diltiazem four times daily, 60 mg of propranolol four times daily, a combination of 90 mg of diltiazem and 60 mg of propranolol four times daily, and placebo. Diltiazem, propranolol and a combination all significantly increased exercise duration compared to placebo (526 +/- 149, 525 +/- 115, and 549 +/- 129 vs 430 +/- 132 sec.). Although rate pressure product and heart rate decreased with diltiazem therapy at submaximal workloads, these values were unchanged at peak exercise in contrast to propranolol or the combination of propranolol or diltiazem. Diltiazem decreased the sub-maximal and maximal degree of exercise-induced ST segment depression by over 50% compared to placebo (P less than 0.01 vs placebo). Diltiazem resulted in a higher exercise left ventricular ejection fraction compared to placebo, propranolol or the combination of diltiazem or propranolol (all less than P less than 0.05). Sinus bradycardia or orthostatic hypertension occurred in four patients on the high-dose combination therapy and required dose reduction. We concluded that high-dose diltiazem, appeared to be even more effective than moderate-dose propranolol or the combination of diltiazem and propranolol in improving exercise tolerance, electrocardiographic evidence of myocardial ischaemia and left ventricular function in patients with stable effort angina due to occlusive coronary artery disease.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

In 43 patients with variant angina, the cardiovascular event rate during diltiazem therapy was compared with that in an equal time period before initiation of therapy. Cardiovascular events, that is, myocardial infarction, sudden death and hospitalization for prolonged angina, were decreased significantly (p less than 0.01) during the initial 6 months and mean 19.6 months of therapy. Based on the binomial principle, there were 22 events during the mean 19.6 months before therapy and 2 events during the equal time period on therapy. No patient died during follow-up. The frequency of angina was decreased by 94%. Diltiazem was well tolerated by all patients and no patient had to discontinue therapy because of adverse effects. It is concluded that long-term diltiazem therapy reduces cardiovascular events in patients with variant angina.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

In order to evaluate long-term efficacy of a new calcium antagonist, diltiazem, for therapy of coronary artery spasm, 16 patients with clinical variant angina due to documented coronary artery spasm participated in a 44-week prospective, randomized, double-blind cross-over trial of 240 mg of diltiazem vs. placebo. The study involved eleven 28-day cycles of which one of the first five cycles (phase 1) and one of the last six cycles (phase 2) were placebo, with the remainder being active medication. Response was assessed with the dairy technique, measuring frequency of angina and side effects. When diltiazem was compared with the placebo period during phase 1, there was a 73% decrease in frequency of angina from 1.1 to 0.3 episodes per day (P less than 0.01). When diltiazem was compared with the placebo during phase 2, there was an 80% decrease in frequency of angina from 0.5 to 0.1 episodes per day (P less than 0.05). When phase 1 placebo cycle was compared with phase 2 placebo cycle, there was a 55% decrease in frequency of angina which approached statistical significance (P less than 0.10). This marked disease attenuation demonstrated during the 44-week study reflects the variability of symptoms of variant angina and possibly reflects a carry-over therapeutic effect of the calcium entry blocker. Adverse side effects were absent in our small group of patients. Diltiazem is effective for the long-term control of symptoms of active coronary artery spasm.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The first 36 patients with coronary arterial spasm treated with diltiazem and followed up at the Stanford University Coronary Artery Spasm Clinic for 6 months or longer are described. There were 13 men and 23 women with a mean age of 50.2 years; the mean duration of angina was 36.1 months. All patients had angina at rest with a good or fail response to sublingual nitroglycerin. During a mean of 17.5 months of diltiazem therapy, the frequency of angina was reduced from a mean of 21.5 to 1.3 attacks/week. This 94 percent reduction in pain frequency occurred when either 240 or 360 mg of diltiazem was administered daily. Sixteen patients required the addition of isosorbide dinitrate to achieve a painfree state. Pain breakthrough occurred a mean of 1.7 times during the 17.5 month follow-up period but tended to be of short duration. Six patients had trace to 1+ pedal edema and no other adverse effects occurred. It is concluded that diltiazem is highly effective and well tolerated for the long-term prophylaxis and treatment of angina in patients with coronary spasm.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Twelve patients were entered prospectively into a randomized double-blind study comparing the efficacy of nifedipine and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) in the treatment of variant angina pectoris due to coronary artery spasm. Using the diary technique, both anginal episodes and nitroglycerin tablets consumed were recorded during the pretrial, no drug period, and both active drug phases. During the baseline pretrial period, an average of 1.1 anginal episodes/day occurred with reduction to 0.28/day during nifedipine treatment and 0.39/day during ISDN treatment. Headache was the major side effect during ISDN treatment, occurring in 9 of 11 (81%) patients; and nonheart failure related pedal edema during nifedipine treatment, occurring in 4 of 12 (33%) patients. Intolerable side effects necessitating cessation of treatment occurred in two patients during nifedipine treatment and in three patients during ISDN treatment. Patients preferred nifedipine over ISDN because of increased efficacy and fewer uncomfortable side effects. We conclude that both nifedipine and ISDN are effective therapy for coronary spasm, but that nifedipine was more effective and was preferred by the majority of patients.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)